Read again, it uses 30 milliwatts *after it finishes charging*, not for a complete charge cycle.

So they make a sensible device that stops sucking electricity when it senses that the battery is charged, and your response is that its ‘another Apple toy’?

Showing our colors aren’t we?

And what is so innovative here ?

I think Apple is venturing into common electronics goods like chargers, coffee boilers, pans and cookers like a general electronics company do. :) I guess they want to make more money and start forgetting their style and substance. Not a bad idea. I hope some of their products are not: piece of double A battery = 50 dollars.

Good use of quotation marks, but wait a minute… did anyone actually say that?

The big question is who made the batteries? Are these rebadged SANYO Eneloops? Or some cheap NiMH?

I’m sure someone will analyze the battery and come to a conclusion shortly.

I cannot wait to buy this.

I’m not really sure why.

Two batteries in the wireless keyboard? No, try three.

Finally, a reasonably priced product from Apple. I wonder how they’ll make money…

Regarding the charger itself, I am not sure I know of a single person that leaves the charger plugged in *after* it has finished charging. Why would anyone do that? So if the only improvement is in that area…perhaps that’s why they didn’t call it “magical”.

I’ve avoided rechargeable batteries for the past couple of years cause after the 2nd or 3rd recharge, they die too quickly. That being said, I am almost certain my wireless keyboard at home uses more than two AA batteries. I’ll have to double check when I get home from work.

Seeing as how, I’m about to get a wireless keyboard/mouse combo for my PC, I may just have to consider checking this out. Thankfully, I won’t have to wait in any long lines overnight for this one.

FTA: “What they mean by this is that their battery charger uses only 30 milliwatts when it completes a charge cycle thanks to sensors — many other draw 300 or more milliwatts in the same setting. “We’ve engineering these chargers to have the lowest power vampire draw of any AA chargers,” Apple says.”

+1

I wouldn’t leave a battery charger plugged in for weeks, but it isn’t like I’m going to just sit there and wait for the batteries to finish charging. I’ll unplug them when they’re done, but probably only when I notice that the light changed colors to indicate a full charge. That could be hours after they actually finished charging, so the vampire draw could be significant.

two in the magic mouse, three in the bluetooth keyboard, one in the charger? hmmmm.

Newer Apple wireless keyboards only need two AA batteries.

If your rechargeable batteries die too quickly after the 2nd or 3rd charge then you need to invest in some better quality batteries. My recent lot have been going strong for over a year and still manage a steady death.

Mind you, even if they did die quickly, just make sure you have others to hand that are fully charged. I’ve got at least 4 AA’s and 4 AAA’s sitting in a basket waiting to be used when something in the house stops working because the battery has died.

Takes all of about 30 seconds to swap them about. You just have to remember to recharge the dead ones before you put them back into the basket :)

Apple’s current wireless keyboard uses 2 battery. I’m typing on mine. The previous generation uses 3, I think.

Whatever apple touches turns into white magical gold!

Can’t decide whether I serious or sarcastic. Let me check my stock portfolio…. Ok – DEAD SERIOUS!

say it takes only 4 hours for your batteries to recharge but you start charging them right before you go to sleep… or go to work… or get distracted, and then you leave the batteries in the charger for 24 hours.

boom, proved you wrong.

jinx, you owe me 10 cokes.

I’ve been using rechargeable AA batteries (Sanyo Eneloops) for the last 3 years for my digital SLR and external flash and they are still performing quite well. I haven’t counted the number of recharges, but it must be several hundred times.

They updated the wireless keyboard a while back: the new one takes two batteries instead of three.

Well we can conclude you are an Apple Drone. I am sure if Apple was selling shit you would buy it.

See above

Apple fans do not need innovations! They only need the logo! Stupid….

The original Wireless keyboard used three batteries, the newer just needs two. I drove a friend nuts when I told her she had to get that third battery out of the keyboard for recharging. She even had it sent back, until we both realized that Apple had changed this.

Somebody bring the FAIL whale please!

“as big or a pricey” should be “as big or as pricey’

Fix it!

I’ve been using rechargeable batteries from SONY (2500 mAh) and a SONY charger that loads them in circa three hours. They will keep both my Logitech Bluetooth Mouse and an Apple Wireless keyboard alive for circa three weeks, and that’s with 8 to 12 hours of daily use. I think this is good enough to justify spending a few more bucks and not polluting the environments with hundreds of cheap batteries over the years.

This is just the beginning of Apple’s streak about the future of their products. Please welcome, the iBoard! http://2su.de/1L3

Apple’s next great innovative product… the iPhone 5 with a REMOVABLE pair of AA batteries.

Take that Android phones.

I wonder what Consumer Report has to say about this…

But it’s an amazing and magical charger. One more thing only $29. Just don’t hold it the wrong way or it won’t charge right.

Spam douche. gtfo.

Most rechargeable products give you the actual technical specifications (for example low capacity 1500 mAh vs high capacity of 2500 mAh).

So what is the capacity of these batteries? and why isn’t it showing on the product page?

How is that innovative exactly? You realize we’re talking *milliwatts* here, right? Let’s convert to watts and see how revolutionary this is. 0.3 watts for a “normal” charger, or 0.03 watts for Apple’s – wow, what a difference! You’ll save whopping 2 cents or so on your power bill every month! Totally worth the $30 investment!

LOL – great comment :)

This is the truest statement made on this comment thread.

You get what you pay for. Sounds like you’re buying the absolute cheapest batteries you can find. Pay for quality ones and they’ll last a long time.

It could also be a crappy charger. When they overcharge the batteries, they die pretty quickly.

This happens to also be an argument for this charger, since it isn’t one of those crappy, cheap ones.

looks like a great product, but i dont how see how different it is from what is already out there…

i would like to thank as well the person that sent me a message on my blog…. i will keep commenting..

for a great marketing blog with an attitude… check out

http://marketmpb.blogspot.com
matt

Stops charging battery when you touch it?

Now I know not to go with the Radio Shack brand. I fail, haha.

We both know if Apple decided to sell shit, the iPoo would be the most revolutionary defecation ever envisioned by man. Anyway, I heard a rumor it’s going to be sterile! And it’s going to be available in classic glossy white and brushed chrome. Plus it’ll work with ALL computers – both Macs (OSX 10.5+) and iPads!!!! Steve Jobs has done it again! Count me in for 3, if the projected price of $149 is to be believed!

Gotta love Apple man…

Multiply that by the number of people that will eventually buy it. It adds up.

From an environment standpoint, this is a good thing. Other companies that sell battery-powered products should offer their own or third-party chargers with batteries to encourage use of recyclables.

Sure, the haters will always try to find an angle, but this is just a case of doing the right thing. I hope other companies do so as well.

Wow!

Voila!

MAGIC!!!!!!!!!

Jesus…Android fans really need new jokes! Lets see, we’ve seen:

-If people want this they are Apple Fanboys/drones
-People are buying the logo
-Consumer Reports…FTW!!
-And my favorite…don’t hold it wrong!

Apple could announce a water purifier with solar power station that provides internet for the world’s poor and some knob would still say “don’t hold it wrong”. I can respect people who like Android over iOS, hell on some aspects I totally agree with them. But to troll every Apple article with these pointless statements simply makes you a hemor-droid…grow up!

Finally an apple product that everyone can afford!!!

@robin I’m sorry you can’t afford to buy Apple products.

Unplug the charger when the batteries are charged!

I am not eating until the iFork is out

As someone else below offered:

- plug them in for charging before bed
- crazy morning (we all have them at times) and we forget to unplug them
- work 8 hours + whatever commute

All of a sudden, though you mean to unplug them, you left it plugged in for 24 hours.

With that said, why NOT reduce power draw? Isn’t it just the RIGHT THING TO DO, regardless of how big the individual impact?

Apple would never rebadge anything. They are too innovative idiot.

Speaking of margins…
$29? Hmm. A physical plug and six rechargeable batteries or….. a silicone iPhone 4 bumper (before they were free).
In other words, until Antennagate, the most profitable thing Apple sold was probably silicone.

I want them in the front page. This is a breakthrough. To hell with that iPhone, I’m tired of holding it with chopsticks.

Quit getting your panties in a bunch. I’m poking fun at consumer report, not apple.Talk about a true fanboy…not even taking time to think about what a sentence can mean before lashing out at it.

Maybe they picked up some Sony laptop cells at a good price… :P

Lowest vampire draw would be 0 milliwatts once it completes a charge cycle. AT&T has such a charger that has no draw when there isn’t a phone plugged into it. Sure it doesn’t recharge AA batteries but it shows that a 0 milliwatt draw is possible.

However I don’t see the point of this product, at least from Apple. Is it to provide batteries for their wireless keyboards and new trackpad? I personally use an Energizer charger that I bought at Radio Shack for $10.00. It recharges AAA, AA, C, D and 9 Volt batteries. It has a 0 milliwatt draw between charges because I unplug it.

Better chargers are available for a third of the price. I also put better faith in battery makers to provide higher quality rechargeable standard size batteries than a computer manufacturer.

+1

The most innovative rechargeable batteries I have seen are the the two charging in my USB ports right now.

http://www.usbcell.com/

Boom, sure they are like $8/pop but the most handy things I have ever bought.

I want the one with the wifis.

True story … I have the wireless keyboard people are talking about that only requires two batteries. I think it’s super ultimate limited edition or something special. Because my friend bought an iMac months before me and his keyboard required three batteries! Get that, three! And I only need two! Living the dream over here … living the dream …

Nice, so Apple turning Green. Go Cleantech

lmao…and the big GBs?

Apple obviously doesn’t make cameras: two slots is not enough. Most of the competitor AA units in that price range charge four batteries at a time, and include charging of AAAs.

Only 30 milliwatts?
Who is going to use it nowadays ?
Anyways, visit this social network which is coming soon, register to get notified when it comes live http://tiny.cc/qua4r this is more useful

I got excited because I thought they had created a portable battery charger that can run off battery or wall charge. There are times when I cant find a wall charger and my cell is dying and a portable charger that charges your phone using the batteries that were charge over night would be amazing! Just plug in your usb power plug into it and go! If this has not yet been invented I will take credit for it.

Amazing price! only problem is that the least amount I can charge to my magic Icard is 149$. Well.. Ill just buy spare ones then

I love nerd fights.

Wow this will revolutionize the World as we know it! If i buy a few can they power my car??

“And now the nerds are congregating for the ceremonial banging of the plastic toys…”
-Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

The true metric would be comparing the power saved versus any incremental R&D, transportation, production impacts of the new device.

No multitouch, no multitasking, doesn’t run iOS4 and no front facing camera. From what I’ve heard, it won’t run flash either.

All in all, a failure of a product that will be a complete flop. IMO Apple have really missed the target on this one.

Exactly! That’s true innovation. I love these things and I’d never go back to a traditional charger.

I like that picture. +1

Define “better.” And while you’re at it, show me a AA charging system at a third the price where the batteries last ten years. All the ones I’ve tried turn the batteries useless in as few as eight months.

Put up or shut up.

And stating that you think the companies that make batteries aren’t the same companies that already make computers shows how little you know about consumer electronics.

Why doesn’t Apple just sell apples? That will inspire us all to eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away. Mwahaha!

Ironically I just discovered while cleaning my garage an Apple QuickTake 100 (a brick of a digital camera from around 1997 or so) that came with a ‘AA’ battery charger that looks exactly like this only it’s black. Amazing what roughly 12 years of progress can bring. Granted it sounds like this new version is much more efficient.

Didn’t you see? It’s ten times!

Ten times… an unknown figure from an unknown metric.

Don’t know about 10 years but I have some Duracell rechargeables that I have owned for 5 years. They are still going strong. Though, I’ll admit my charger, which was bought at Radio Shack for $10.00 is only a year old.

Even doubtful that Apple’s batteries will last ten years under heavy use. I would hope that we’re not using the same Lithium-Ion batteries and Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries we have now, in 10 years though. Hopefully we will have moved on to Lithium and Carbon Nanotube technologies and high storage capacitors instead.

Good Luck with that Duracell Laptop you have. I hear they are all the rage today.

Please…your snark was transparent, it was meant for Apple and everyone knows it. You clearly think everyone are idiots and can’t see that. Blah, blah, blah, I’m a fanboy. That term is so overused and childish that it’s become nothing more then a schoolyard taunt.

Apple turned me into a newt!

Well… I got better.

Wait, what?

Not your car, but I’m sure they will work just fine in your dildo.

Thanks to Apple I can now afford to leave my battery charger plugged in unnecessarily for 10 times longer!

+1

This site needs REPORT SPAM button badly…

DUDE, COULD YOU FREAKING STOP POSTING YOUR DLINKED SPAM!!!

no one and I mean NO ONE will use your service if you give it this bad SPAMMING image!!

this is for your own good, so STOP!!

This is seriously taking the piss. How about you let us remove the batteries from your friggin products??

Niiice, that was like hipster level snark, did you write that comment from your fixie?

Is this a joke? A battery charger from the company that refuses to let the consumer replace the battery in any of its products?

“..they made sure to dedicate some time to talking all about this new battery charger.”

Because they knew that the world’s biggest, dumbest Apple shill would write a stupid article about it.

Uh, Steve Jobs invented the colour white.

Why can’t they do this with their laptops. You have to remove the plug when it is done and can only last for 1000 full charges.

It would be nice to not have to remember to do this every time the computer is charged.

Just a thought.

Now the question is..

Is my Gameboy Color going to last longer with those batteries?

I remember taking a good 12 batteries on my camping trips.

ahahhaha seriously social networking is DEAD. im sorry. it’s facebook and that’s it

I plan to purchase all these new apple products. Thanks for creating this battery charger!

Its all about remaking bad products of lazy and clumsy companies. iPod did that, iPhone did that, iPad did that.

My last two chargers are Energizer and you know what? It will only stop when fully charged only in the first few times. Afterward will not stop charging at all and the batteries become too hot to touch … may be useful in winter though.

Mike keeps MG around for shucks and giggles

the point is to sell to retarded fanboys like mg

WOW, just WOW.

Pretty cool, but only 1300 mAh.

We need to introduce a similar but cheaper one…..

They should have called it the MAGIC iCharger.

That seems to sell alot of useless things these days…

Actually your battery is only charging when the light in the plug turns orange.

when it’s green, it’s just powering your Macbook.

like you said, you have to unplug it in order to stop the current flow.

I have a La Crosse charger that does all this thing does, has an LCD readout, refreshes old batteries, tells me charge left on each battery, and much more for that same price on sale, and will charge 4 batteries of any size.

So how the hell is this better? Also the smaller Lithium Tungsten, and new NiZn batteries are coming out and will need a different charge profile that this may not handle.

It just seems like more marketing for a overpriced Apple product. Ya gotta give it to Apple for being smart marketing geniuses, for those who don’t know crap about REAL technology.

Actually, Palm’s Touchstone was broken open and tested by hackers and it stops consumption too when there’s phone sitting on it. As a Palm Pre or a Pixi sitting and being used continue to burn energy, it doesn’t stop charging.

Is Apple really innovating here?

If batteries are the only reason you make late-night visits to Walgreen’s…

If normal chargers use 300 mW when they’re not charging, and this one uses 30 mW, then the difference of 270 mW would save you $0.000027 an hour. That’s assuming your electricity costs $0.10 per kWh. That is $0.02 per month, and about $0.25 per year. You could make a bigger difference carpooling once, or turning off a lightbulb for a day, or… a million more significant things.

At ~$30, this is most definitely the cheapest set of rechargeable batteries and charger I’ve seen.

But with one charger that can only handle two batteries at a time, it’s also the most “Apple” charger I’ve seen. Who in their right minds could ever need more than two batteries/one app at a time?